Monthly Archives: July 2013

The big news of the day is that nursing services is again a thing of the past, it was said. It took three months of agitation to get it; they came for about two weeks only one of which was what was needed. There’s no way all of the bandages can done personally. It was the case manager that showed up to be doing it. The light for the kitchen has a bulb that burned out again. Given the day’s big deal, there was no mood to be doing anything; but, there was a run to the office near 4:15 p.m. to get maintenance, the office being closed on Wednesdays. This week it was closed on Tuesday afternoon, too.

July 24, 2013.

Today continues yesterday. A telephone bill was rung up calling places as part of the aftermath of losing the nursing services. The nursing service even called the homemaker aide (who works for the same company) and told her duties now included doing anything that needed to be done in regard to the such things as the bandaging in the one hour per week allotted to personal care. The aide was advised otherwise when she got to the apartment. First thing in the morning it was noted that the air bed was due to collapse (too much air gone). A new one was added to the (already once revised) errands list.

July 25, 2013 … (Delayed)

Who knows what happened at this late date, namely the late evening of July 26, 2013…. With no food truck due or payments due or people due or other thing due it should have been a free day to recuperate a little more if possible. Well, it wasn’t. For one thing, there had to be a trip to the office about the kitchen light bulb. For another thing there be nothing at hand that would be easy breakfast, meaning grab it and eat – there is plenty that needs some fiddling. A basement trip was undertaken for breakfast rolls – a dollar a shot nowadays. Light blub replacement got done. Telephoning was done.

July 26, 2013.

More telephoning was the order of the day for the second it should have been a free day. In the midst of a crucial call the fire alarm went off. There was to be no conversing for the standard fifteen minutes it takes for the thing to be shut off. …Which wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t been approaching 11:00 a.m. as barely had things settled down when lunch lady was at the door. Lunch was refrigerated (saved for tomorrow as no delivery tomorrow), but still to put all parts somewhere took time, by which time a pertinent email assumed not to be coming came. The crucial call was never finished

July 27, 2013.

A happy day it was, insofar as possible. Lunch, saved from yesterday, could be a when-you-get-to-it-thing and happened much later than usual. That’s only good because it then becomes “unrushed” activity. Another sort of necessary trip to the basement for breakfast became extended to a look in the library. It’s just too bad there isn’t time presently to read an interesting book found. A meander outside found two people with whom to actually have a conversation. It’s uncommon. The swollen right leg got wrapped up to do this, which isn’t all that good, but the result (a trace of real normalcy) made it worthwhile.

July 28, 2013.

Regular friend dutifully stopped by, watered the plants, brought cake for easy breakfast, kindly took a rent payment and agreed to do the enclosure letter and did a few other little things. Much of the day was spent abed as the right leg starts swelling almost immediately upon getting off of that and doesn’t recede in less than two hours there. A few more of the bookmarks/favorites from the old computer got installed on the new one. There are dozens more, some of which are important. The substitute nursey-doctor is due near noontime tomorrow. The likely result will be a delay of days before real medical service.

July 29, 2013.

End of a week of sorts is here. The nursey-doctor came this morning and earlier than expected. She went through her routine then listened to the complaints, which were perhaps a shade incoherent although one point or another might have gone through. The option for other services has not been shelved. It’s possible to wait a day or two to see what happens. Enough energy came from somewhere to get a measurable dent into the computer stuff (small measure, but measurable nonetheless). There are only four packs of cigarettes left, and there are just a few dollars on the telephone.

Truthfully, this might have been squeezed in properly on Tuesday rather than two days later, but there comes a time when people think they don’t want to do anything more. The nurse came in the afternoon to change the bandages (it’s a big job), and the thing that had to be kept in mind was the three-day pill due in the evening. Also in mind was making out the list, etc., for the home aide as doing that on Wednesday morning causes a state of nervous agitation. There is enough nervous agitation at present over getting the new computer system all lined up amid trying to arrange a few things like the rent money orders.

July 17, 2013 … (Delayed)

So, okay, Jessica, the current homemaker aide/home health care aide (depends on who is talking) came as scheduled and as usual did a great job. It definitely helped to have the list made out, the money and keys for the errand ready and so forth. Regular friend unexpectedly came earlier than usual at near 5:30 p.m. with a new wrist watch in hand. Surprise, it’s a man’s watch, but there hasn’t been a working watch at hand for about two years, so nothing shall be said. A feminine version can be found later. It seems his lady may be very sick; so, it’s a time to ask little and appreciate what is given.

July 18, 2013.

Four items are set for tomorrow, the lunch lady, the food truck, the bandages nurse and regular friend. All four need some arranging, the most on the truck and money order errand by friend, and mid-day today came up with a tummy ache to slow things down. It seems, however, there will be no need to run down to the office yet as last year’s papers (found) are dated August 1. The progress on the computer is very slow. About fifty bookmarks/favorites still have to be set into the new “dual” system. At least some of the most important ones like a link to the website and local news are connected.

July 19, 2013.

All expected for today came off well – services are good at the moment – but, based on what was under the bandages the condition is slowly deteriorating. It’s back to the doctoring service or possibly even the emergency room. Cincinnati does have specialists who should know how to treat the condition but, as this is late Friday, not much can be done at present. One of the three-day pills is due in the morning which might make a difference. Apparently the weather is cooling down a little, which can also make a difference. There’s food in the place, cash in hand and clean bandages on each foot. Briefly, on to the computer.

July 20, 2013.

A “free day” it be, no one due to stop by (no paper by the door, either, that is, as of about 8:00 p.m.) and nothing absolutely vital in need doing (plenty in need of doing, but none of it absolutely vital to existence, like having food in the place). A lovely pain-free four hours was spent with the computer, largely arranging it a little bit more to be using it. It takes some figuring, so not much ever gets done. At first there was the feel-good feeling of the three day pill wearing off, and then the feel-good feeling of the one taken. It did last until a little after 3:00 p.m. It was a rare and happy time as if all was just fine.

July 21, 2013.

For some unknown reason, it was not a good day. Extra effort was made to put in extra sack time in the hopes that the swelling near the ankles would continue to recede. It didn’t work. In fact, there were frequent spikes of pain, and most often there is no pain, just incredible itching. Breathing was not too bad, but a physical movement of any sort was not good. There was thought that watering the plants would be difficult as they had been slightly re-arranged to make room for the new one received last Sunday. Regular friend was asked to do it, in spite of not being much of a plant person.

July 22, 2013.

The seventh day is always an accomplishment. It was a day for telephone calls, which is always a nerve-wracking experience. It do seem people are talking just a little faster these days, fast enough that they are hard to understand if one isn’t familiar with the lingo of that particular business or office. To make it worse, a person says what is wanted and the stock answer is often either an offer of voice mail or a promise to call back. In other words, no answer. Twenty dollars was dropped off at the door of the lady who has been helping with the houseplants. It is a hope she found it. Purchase of a sweet roll for breakfast was the sure thing.

First thing in the morning there was a race to call the doctor’s office. Nursey-doctor was expected, but the notice said it wasn’t to be the one that had been coming. She wasn’t sick. She had quit. The one scheduled would do little but take readings like blood pressure. On the “agenda” was when would the actual nurse arrive, as it had been pointed out to that agency that changing bandages just before the doctor came was rather useless as a doctor wants to see what is under them. The timing of bandages seemed to be of little concern to the person who answered the telephone. The day was a bit hectic and confused.

July 10, 2013 … (Delayed)

What life and circumstances had lined up for the day was computer crash at about 4:00 a.m. (with alarm going off), nurse at 10:00 a.m., lunch lady at about 11:00 a.m. or so, homemaker aide at maybe 12:00 p.m./noon, aide supervisor for two month review at 1:00 p.m. and regular friend in the evening sometime after 5:00 p.m. The computer could not be revived; friend took it for possible checking in the evening. Nurse was hopefully cancelled by morning, but word had not been sent. The aide had a family emergency and didn’t come. An event a day is enough. The three set for Wednesdays are just barely managed.

July 11, 2013.

The word that had finally come was that the nurse would be coming tomorrow (Friday), so this day was almost a free day. The homemaker aide’s supervisor, in the absence of the aide, was willing to do something. She watered the plants. As there was then too much water on the plants, part of the day was spent in getting excess water out of the pots. A part of the day was to be studying the new computer, which friend had put where the old one had been and which had nearly no online connectivity. An intent to wander outside was interrupted by a message in the elevator announcing a valuable lecture in the community room.

July 12, 2013.

The nurse did come, but well after the expected hour. She only finished part of the bandaging. Everything is more of a mess; a pill is due tomorrow morning. Although it was a bit much, determination to get out of the apartment led to a trip outside. There had been some intention to stop at the office to see about the papers for the rental agreement for next year, but it was too late to be doing that. There was a tidbit done on the computer. At the current rate the thing might be operational by Christmas. It’s surprisingly tiresome to talk, and the more or less three days of talking for the nursing fortunately are over for now.

July 13, 2013 … (Delayed).

There were two principle efforts in the day. One was to get some extra rest in the hope that would help with the medical matters, although that really doesn’t seem to be helping much. The second activity of the day was to get more of the new computer business lined up to be used, although that seems to be terribly long drawn out. The idea was to work on the computer for a couple of hours, then hit the bed for an unspecified time – however long it felt like it. It went pretty good until about 7:00 p.m. – all four pills were taken, etc. – but after that there was such a tiredness the day’s notes didn’t get done.

July 14, 2013.

Regular friend came by and we had a nice visit. There was supposedly a picnic lunch in the works from some nice people. When it didn’t come by 2:30 p.m., a sandwich was downed amid a wait-to-see-what-happened. An idea to go outside was shot down by then as it’s too hot (and apparently will be so for most of the rest of the week). The lunch, a hamburger, some potato salad, beans and more arrived around 4:30 p.m. It was nice to meet the man in charge of the group who happened to be the one picked to do the delivering. And, there is now a new plant to add to the collection.

July 15, 2013.

A second intent to see about the lease fell by the wayside. Several unexpected things came on the scene in the morning, and there were some of the frequent troublesome things as well. Additional medical possibilities were explored as it seemed that should take top priority with the nursey-doctor having quit. The nurse to do bandages is due tomorrow, so there is at least that much. It’s also time to be arranging to get the money orders for the rent, while the computer is far from in order. Regular friend has money to get a new wristwatch. It’s now expected he will bring it Wednesday. That might help.

It’s been terribly nice and cool in the apartment, so much so that the numbers on the weather gadget have almost lost their meaning. Still, there can be a confused state. Supper was salami and bread – not a sandwich , just salami and bread. It turns out the salami slices were miscounted and what was thought to be about a dozen was closer to two dozen. The nurse came. It’s a state of all new bandages. There was no progress with the new computer. It’s also terribly nice to not have to sit immobile waiting for the scooter batteries to re-charge. Today it was the second time it was a simple matter of switching boxes.

July 3, 2013 … (Delayed)

The big thing on Wednesdays is always the coming of the homemaker aide also known as a home health care aide. And, the big thing currently is the freedom from concern about running out of energy to operate the scooter. Cash in hand was quite short until regular friend went and got some in the evening. Right now (at this point, which is Friday afternoon) most of the day has been forgotten but for that and a concern that one of the wounds on the foot is draining crap, and it is contaminating the shoe on that foot. It happened a week ago, too, but that, it seems anyway, got cleaned up.

July 4, 2013 …. (Delayed)

It being a holiday, it was taken as a time to do as wished (apart from the concern over the shoe and the foot). Scooter energy was squandered. There was time to go downstairs and sit outside just to get out of the apartment. That it was raining outside didn’t matter. It wasn’t a violent rain. That a not so friendly person also showed up outside didn’t matter, either. A couple hours of fireworks nearby did disturb a restful evening, but even that didn’t matter. A clue was found in regard to using the new computer. That squandered scooter energy, too, as it was done down the hall in front of the elevators….

July 5, 2013.

The nurse didn’t show up as expected at 10:15 a.m. A call to the office said she had decided to come at about 2:00 p.m. She didn’t. The food truck didn’t come as expected. However, both eventually arrived. For a change things went better than expected. The current food truck driver is a vacation substitute, and the nurse is the back up nurse, so the “better than expected” is just for today. Just for today is okay, too, as long as one remembers it’s for the moment. There was a sit outside after some debate, but, more important, a little problem may have been solved in regard to the new order in the (personal) universe.

July 6, 2013.

Awoke with good intentions – early morning was supposed to be a new time for pill taking – and almost immediately had one of those messy accidents that take an hour or so to clean up. The pill taking was delayed by several hours. While it’s not necessary to take them with food, it seems to be the best way to handle it as that’s easy to remember. Squandered scooter energy going downstairs to sit outside again. Wasted a bunch of time playing a computer game (often can’t do much else with the computer time). Left bookkeeping undone again to finish a part of the computer game. It wasn’t a well managed day.

July 7, 2013.

Sundays bring a regular visitor who stops to see if there is still life in the place. A part of the stop the visitor added is to ask if anything is needed, like food. Food is not ordinarily needed, but other things are readily mentioned – lawyer, phone card, person to do research at the library…. It was a nice visit, and needs may be reported on Wednesday. Online message boards once provided a wealth of good information. A look around suggests such things are dying. Maybe the look was in the wrong places. It’s something to investigate when there’s time. Nothing’s been posted that seems to be of any personal use.

July 8, 2013.

Word came that the nursey doctor is coming tomorrow, and not the one who has some interest in a cure. The nursing service was called and was presented with a thought that the nurse to change the bandages should really come after rather than before the nursey doctor. They sent no subsequent word and it’s after 6:00 p.m. At least the change from the errands last Wednesday got put away; it was short twelve cents. It was a “free day” except for the lunch lady. Those are nice and wished for mightily. More fresh blood (just a little) was found again today – not yet completely figured out – which put a damper on it.

A nurse was supposed to show up today for “wound care.” No such thing did and no such thing happened. The lunch lady came promptly. Regular friend was in the building helping someone else get home from the hospital and stopped in for a fast look at the battery re-charging business that went too quickly Sunday. A little discussion took place with the doctor’s office regarding nursing services. A call went to the drug store, and, yes, a prescription was called in to be delivered Thursday, maybe, if there’s enough cash at hand. As for the nurse, well, like it or not she’s coming tomorrow like friend, lunch lady and homemaker aide.

June 26, 2013.

Nursing services is now completely up in the air. The woman came after 11:30 a.m., although the distinct recollection is that she said 11:30…. The lunch lady had already been around. Lunch had been deposited on the table except for a couple of little extras which were being deposited in the refrigerator. Pausing to talk to the nurse was no problem, but there was no talking to her. The doctor’s office said, but that wasn’t the way things were, and after about twenty minutes she stomped out the door. The bandage started was finished by the patient and the homemaker aide got the sock back on the foot.

June 27, 2013.

The pills arrived. So did lunch. The nursing business, it turns out, is complex, a lot more so than expected. (The nurse ran to the hospital emergency room.) A new agency was set up to come and take care of things with the preliminary visit (interview) set for tomorrow at noontime. At least the drippy nose and even the coughing subsided for a time, and there was no need to be waiting for a scooter recharge. The new computer is also complex … and exceptionally difficult to be figuring out without an internet connection. The rent has to be taken care of, at least the part that is usually mailed out.

June 28, 2013.

Actually, it be a rather peaceful day. The new nursing service representative did come but was a bit late. Service – changing the assorted bandages – should start on Tuesday. There was a trip to the lobby to get the mail out, although scooter baby is again low on energy while there’s no one around at the moment to switch the battery boxes. There may be a bit of recharging necessary (at least enough for a day or so) tomorrow. It was in the news that the computer business has out a newer version of the workings. The new one is already a tad obsolete, but just maybe it will work better than the one at hand.

June 29, 2013.

A strange day came today. First thing in the morning it was discovered that the internet connection died almost immediately after the computer was abandoned during the night hours. (Funny it should last just long enough.) It did eventually reconnect. It seemed a good day for figuring out the new computer. That didn’t happen until evening. A good three quarters of an hour were spent sitting by the elevators (as in days of old). The more looking done the more confusion come. And, the strange part is that the connections by the elevator are not the same as the connections in the apartment, and they should be.

June 30, 2013.

May there be substantial changes ahead. If the scooter re-charge business does nothing but continue as it has for the past week, that will be a massive change. It was a week without hours of immobility while the scooter was energized. Friend was happy to know today that there was no need for an emergency visit to keep the wheels going. After two or so weeks the new computer picked up precarious internet connection this afternoon in the apartment with the old one still going. That, continued, will make it easier to transfer information and links to the new machine. Sitting by the elevator is not a good thing.

July 1, 2013.

In a squandering waste of scooter energy (now that a new system may really be in the works) there was a trip downstairs for no practical reason. It was just to go outside and sit and look at the river and the skyline on the north bank, i.e., a matter of getting out of the apartment even if it was no farther than the parking lot. It’s been at least a year since there was a wandering around the place for no good (necessary) reason. There was a call to the nursing agency to see when the nurse is coming tomorrow and some fiddling with the new computer – present rate with that suggests about a year before real use.